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Medical questions & health advice by board certified doctors

"How would I know if I have a hernia?"

Question

I was lifting some boxes at work today and got a sharp pain in my stomach/abs. Does this mean I have a hernia? It still hurts two days later. What are the symptoms of a hernia?

Answer

Where exactly in the abdomen does it hurt? Is there a bulge where you are hurting? It is also important to know whether or not you have undergone surgeries in your abdomen, prior umbilical, epigastric, inguinal, or incisional hernias before. Presumably that you've never had a hernia or any prior surgeries in your abdomen or inguinal area, the pain you are feeling is probably a muscle pull. However, a hernia is always possible. You may have had a small non-symptomatic inguinal or umbilical hernia before, and the extra abdominal pressure from the heavy lifting has just made it larger. Abdominal hernias are very common. It is one of the most common reasons for elective surgeries. Depending on your body habitus as well as location of your hernias, it can be very difficult to examine. Therefore, it should be examined by a general surgeon who sees a lot of patients with hernias because subtle signs can be easily missed. Hernias don't go away on their own and should be corrected because there is a risk for bowel entrapment which can be disastrous. Fixing a hernia when the bowels are not stuck in it is straight forward. There are different approaches to treat a hernia (most are very durable). I would suggest a consultation with a primary care physician who may refer you to a surgeon who can assess your condition and discuss with you his or her preferred approach.

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Zocdoc Answers is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor (in the United States) 911 immediately. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. Medical professionals who provide responses to health-related questions are intended third party beneficiaries with certain rights under Zocdoc’s Terms of Service.